Tennis racket with captive ball apparatus



Jul;r 19, 1960 R. H. HEIMERS ET AL TENNIS RACKET WITH CAPTIVE BALL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i a eo l.: l 5 i I i6 i si l! so I! n l 7 e Fig. 3

JNVENToRs RUDOLPH H. HEIMERS FRIEDREICH 0. HEIMERS SIEGFRIED HEIMERS av max 8.19101:

' Filed sept. le, 1957 July 19, 1960 R. H. HElMERs ETAL 2,945,695

TENNIS RACKET WITH cAPTIvE BALL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmm l' 76 1s INVENToRs le I f|| mf' BY 14mm A 14mg nAoKET wrm cArrIvE BALL APPARATUS Rudolph Heinrich Heimers, Friedreich Otoman Heimers, and Siegfried Immanuel Heimers, all of 2001 Main St.,A

ChulalVsta,

Fileasepf. 16, 1957, ser. No. 584,183V Achims. (crm-97) 'The present invention relates generally to game apparatus and more particularly to a tennis racket with captive. 'ball apparatus. This application is .a continuationin-part of our co-pending application, Serial No. 385,532, tiled October 12,A 1953, now .Patent No. 2,806,700.

The primaryobject of this invention is to provide a tennis racket having a multiple pulley system mounted thereon Aon which is stored a considerable length of elasf tic cord, so that a ball 4attachedto the elastic cord can be4 driven for a considerable distance, even the full length of" atennis court, and returned by the elastic cord. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a captive, b all apparatus having means for controlling the Velastic cord, during extension, and means for storing4 surplus elastic cord. Y

Another object Aof this invention is to provide atennis h racket on which the pulley system is mounted so that, With the captive ball itself detached, the racket may 'be used fora normal tennis racket.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket on which the pulley system may be opened toV facilitate loading the elastic cord.'

Another object-of this invention is to provide a captive ball apparatus which can be attached to any type of tennis racket without Vdamage or alteration to the racket.

Another object of this invention is to provide a captive ball yapparatus whichis adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can -be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact `sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and'needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a captive ball apparatus which is practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide a captive lball apparatus of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will vgive generally eicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the Vnovel construction, combination and arrangement lof elements and portions, as will bev hereinafter fully described in the'speciiication, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the tennis racket andcomplete captive `ball apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken Yon the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

FigureVV 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the handle-portion of the racket;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vsectional -view taken on theline 6-6 of Figure 1;

ICC

Figure is a fragmentary sectional view .taken on th line 7-k-7 of Figure 3; and

FigureS is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 2;

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or iden.

ticalelements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawings.

Referring now to thedrawings in detail, the apparatusA includes a tennis racket '-10 of. normal type, having a frame 12 and a handle 14 on which is a hand grip 16. Secured to the frame 1 2 directly opposite the handlel4 is a 'bracket 18 having an offset portion `20 from' whichl extends a platform 22, close to and parallel to the general plane of the strings 2,4 of the racket, as shownV in Figure 2. The bracket 18V has laterally. extending lugs 26 which -rest on the face of the frame l'zand the offset portion '20 has further lugs 28 which rest against the inner surface of the frame, said bracket .being held in place by` bands 30 of adhesive tape or the likewhich are wrapped around the frame land over said lugs.

Mounted on the platform 22 is a plate/like support frame'32 having onlboth sides a plurality of retaining.,

tabs 34 which are folded under the platform to hold said support frame in place. Extending upwardly from the sidesV of the support frame 3f2'adjacent one Vend are two l `hinge tabs 36, while at the other end thereof are two similar alignment tabs 38. Mounted on the support frarne`32 is a pulley block 40 which fits between the hinge tabs 36 and alignment'tabs '38 and is pivotally attached'by means of' a hinge pin` 42 through yboth of said hinge tabs and the pulley block. The pulley block 40l comprises a plurality of spaced, parallel platesV 44' interconnected at one end by a common transverse spacer member 46, saidv plates dening runways 48 therebetween on both sides of the spacer 'membeit v haveta common transverse bore 50 in which are disposed a plurality of freely rotatable groovedY pulleys 52 hav! ing their grooves aligned With the runways 48, lsaid pulleys `being mounted on a shaft 54, oneiend of' which is journalled in the end plate 56 ofthe pulley block 40, the other end of said shaft being embedded in Ya` cap 58 which lits into a socket 60 intheother end plate -62 of said block. The; pulley block 40 is `held inv place by a :generally U-shaped retaining clip 64 straddling the block,.one end of said clip being pivotally attached to a hinge bracket 66 integral. with and extending from end of the support frame 32,the freeend 68 of said retaining clip having an aperture 70A which snaps over the protruding end 7'2 of the shaft 54 `to lock the clip in place.` Y

Secured tothe handle 14 at the upper end of the hand grip |16 is 1a saddle plate 74 having folded ends 76 shaped to lit the cross-sectional contours of the handle, so-that said saddle plate rests iirmly in place as shown in Figf ure 6. The saddle plate 74 has a large lug '78 extending .from each side thereof and securing bands 30 'are wrappedvaround the handle14 and-these lugs to `hold said saddle plate in position. -Mounted on the saddle plate 474, is a further support frame 32 carrying a pulley block 40, the `structure being identical to that described above except that the pulley block -is reversed so that the spacer `members 46 of both pulley blocks are disposed toward each other. Also, forconvenience,` it is preferred that both pulley blocks 40 are hinged toward the same side of the racket/10. l

As shown in Figure 6, each pulley block 40 may be swung outwardly after releasing .the retainingclip 64,

thus exposing the runways 48 on both sides and facilitatn ingv the winding of the elastic cord 82 around the pulleys, 52 in, adjacent loops.. The pulley blocks 40 are eachM VAraised by a leaf spring 81 iixed at one end in the hinge "bracket 6,6 and extending beneath the pulley block in a Patented, July 1.a, o.

The plates 44 y shallow channel 83 in the plates 44. 'Ihe length of the leaf spring 81 is such that, with the pulley block 40 in raised position, the end of the spring snaps upwardly against the lower face of the pulley block to lock it in upright position, as in Figure 6. For simplicity, thevvindmg of the elastic cord 82 is commenced on one of the outer pulleys 52 of the pulley block.40 on the frame 12 and is continued around successive pulleys of alternate pulley blocks, so that the final strand 84 of the elastic cord 1s around the opposite outer pulley 52 of the pulley block on the handle 14, as in Figure l. The beginning, or fixed end 86 of the elastic cord 82, passes through one folded end 76 of the saddle plate 74 and is attached to a simple, plate-like spool 88 removably mounted between a pair of clamp blocks 90 secured beneath the handle 14,`

by further securing bands 80. The clamp blocks 90 have notches 92 into which the arm portions 94 at each end of the spool 88 are fitted, said spool being suliciently resilient to snap into place easily.

Secured to the frame 12 on top of the bracket 18 is a guide head 96 having therein a frame 98 containing two crossed pairs of spaced, parallel guide rollers 100 and 102, said rollers being in the outer portion of the guide head remote from the adjacent pulley block 40. The inner portion of the guide head 96 has a deep clearance recess 104 from which an aperture 106 opens to the guide rollers 100 and 102, as shown in Figures 2 and 8. The final strand 84 of the elastic cord 82 passes through the central runway 48 of the pulley block 40 adjacent the guide head 96 and is threaded through the aperture 106 and between the guide rollers 100 and 102. It should be noted that the aperture 106 and the guide roller assembly are olset from the plane of the axis of the pulleys 52 sufliciently that the final reach 84 is held clear of the elastic cord 82 around saidpulleys, as shown in Figure 2, to prevent binding of the elastic cord. The free end 108 of the elastic cord 82 is attached to the ball 110 with sufficient slack so that the ball can be brought into striking position relative to the racket. The guide head 96 is fixed in place by means of lugs 112 extending therefrom to rest on the bracket 18 and further lugs 114 which extend along the outer face of the frame 12, said lugs being held beneath the securing bands 30, and the lugs all have outwardly turned ends 116 to prevent slippage of the guide head during play.

In order to provide some means of control over the the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus including a captive element, a pair of pulley blocks each comprising a plurality of parallel spaced opposed plates, a spacer member on which one end of each of said plates is xed, a plurality of pulleys having grooves to receive a linear element, means for mounting said pulleys on said blocks for free rotation and with said grooves disposed between said plates, said plates having portions at the other ends thereof extending beyond the corresponding'pulleys and extending in the direction of the other block and also extending on opposite sides of each block to define runways, a length of elastic cord wound serially around said pulleys in adjacent loops and extending through said runways, one end of said elastic cord being attached to said captive element, said means for mounting comprising an axis member on which said pulleys are mounted, and means for terminally mounting said axis member in fixed relation to said pulley block, means for holding said pulley blocks in spaced relation, and means for securement of the other end of said elastic cord; said means for holding said pulley blocks in spaced relation comprising a tennis racket having a frame and a handle, one of said pulley blocks being secured to said handle adjacent the end thereof remote from the frame and the other pulley block being secured to the frame at a point remote from said handle; ,and roller guide means secured to said frame adjacent to the pulley block on the frame, said guide means comprising extension of the elastic cord 82, a friction brake structure is mounted on the handle 14. This friction brake comprises a generally C-shaped pressure bar 118 having at one end an inwardly turned portion 120 which is journalled in a support tab 122 extending from the saddle plate 74. Integral with and extending normally from the turned portion 120 is a brake arm 124, which is aligned with and fits into the outer runway 48 in the pulley block 40 which contains the final strand 84, as shown in Figures 3 and 7. The other end of the pressure bar 118 has a return folded portion 126 which lits tightly into the folded end 76 of the saddle plate 74 remote from the brake arm 124. Thus the pressure bar 118 is disposed laterally across the handle 14 and is shaped to extend angularly outwardly therefrom. By pressing on the pressure bar 118 with the hand holding the racket, the brake arm is forced outwardly against the elastic cord 82, as shown in dash line in Figure 3, so jamming said elastic cord against the spacer member 46 and preventing further extension of the elastic cord.

Since the elastic cord 82 normally extends and retracts very rapidly, the pulley blocks 40 have means to prevent the elastic cord from jumping off the pulleys and outside of the pulley blocks. This means comprises raised restrictors 128 which are integral with the plates 44 remote from the spacer member 46, said restrictors being disposed in opposed pairs, as indicated in Figures 6 and 7.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of a set of freely rotatable guide rollers defining an aperture for the elastic cord offset from the common plane of said pulley blocks to hold the yinner portion of the free part of the elastic cord out of contact with the pulleys of the pulley block on the frame while it is being fed into and payed out from the pulley block on the handle.

y 2. Captive Ibal-l apparatus comprising: a tennis racket having a frame and a handle; a first pulley block on said frame, Iand a second pulley block on said handle; each of said pulley blocks having ytherein a plurality 0f freely rotatable pulleys having their axes in a common plane; a continuous length of elastic cord wound serially around said pulleys in adjacent loops; said elastic cord having a Ifree end, and a ball attached to said free end; the other end of said elastic cord being in fixed rela tion to the racket; roller guide means mounted on said frame for guiding said cord; said roller guide means being offset from the plane of the axes of said pulleys, so that the inner portion of the free part of the elastic cord is held out of contact with one of said pulley blocks while it is being fed into and payed out from the otherv pulley block; each of said pulley blocks being mounted on a pivot at one end of each pulley block, on said v frame, to swing outwardly from said tennis racket; and

i means for retaining said blocks in operative position.

3. Captive ball apparatus comprising: a tennis racket having a frame and a handle; a first pulley block on said frame, and a second pulley block on said handle; each of said pulley blocks having therein a plurality of freely rotatable pulleys having their axes in a common plane; a continuous length of elastic cord wound serially around said pulleys in adjacent loops; said elastic cord having a free end, and a ball -attached to said free end; the other end of said elastic cord being in fixed relation to the racket; roller guide means mounted on said frame for guiding said cord; said roller guide means being olset from the plane of the axes of said pulleys, so that the inner portion of the free part of the elastic cord is held out of contact with one of said pulley blocks while it is being fed into and payed out from the other pulley block; each of said pulley blocks being pivotally mounted at one end to swing outwardly from said tennis racket; means for retaining said blocks in operative position; a spring operatively mounted at each of s-aid pulley blocks and biasing said pulley blocks to swing outwardly from the tennis racket into upright position; each said spring also locking the corresponding pulley block in said upright position.

4. Captive ball apparatus comprising: a tennis racket having la yframe and a handle; a tir-st pulley lblock fixed to said frame, anda second pulley block fixed to s-aid handle; each of said pulley blocks having therein a plurality of freely rotatable pulleys; `a continuous length of elastic cord wound serially around said pulleys in adjacent loops; said el-astic cord having a -free end, and a ball attached to said ifree end; lthe other end of said elastic cord being in fixed relation to the racket; roller guide means mounted on said frame for guiding said cord; said roller guide means being offset :Erom the plane of the axes of said pulleys, so that the inner portion of the free part of the elastic cord is held out of contact with one of said pulley lblocks while it is .being fed into and payed out from the other pulley block; and friction lbrake means comprising a manually operated pressure bar pivotally mounted on one of said pulley lblocks and having a brake arm integral with said pressure bar and longitudinally aligned with a part of said inner portion of the free part of said elastic cord and frictionally engageable therewith when pressure is applied to said pressure bar.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,720 Mercer May 19, 1925 2,094,536 Heim'ers Sept. 28, 1937 2,110,084 lI-Ieimers Mar. 1, 1938 2,128,610 Heimers Aug. 30, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,406 Denmark Oct. 6, 1934 

